Local 6th Grader Wins Statewide Award in Fire Prevention Contest

For the past 19 years the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation have held a contest asking students to design posters or write essays about fire prevention and safety.

Thursday morning, one of 10 winners for the year was recognized.

Luke Agnew is a 6th grader at Whitnall Middle School in Greenfield was honored in front of his peers.

His poster focused on smoke detectors and the importance of changing them every 10 years.

“There were some other really really good ones that I saw in my class and yeah. I really didn't think I was going to win,” Agnew said.

Smoke detectors was the theme of the past year’s fire safety newspaper by the foundation, and placed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. That was distributed to more than 2100 schools.

There were more than 800 entries this year, which were judged by the Madison Fire Department.

Michael Wos, the executive director of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation, says this is a great way to for students to get engaged and retain lifesaving information.

"It really engages the kids, driving the lessons home. We work with the Department of Public Instruction, so teachers can use these lessons in the classroom without having to make up the hours elsewhere. This programs integrates right into the curriculum,” explained Wos.

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